Humble ISD receives historical marker in time for centennial celebration

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Humble ISD surpassed a major milestone in celebration of its 100-year anniversary. The district unveiled a Texas Historical Marker while celebrating its centennial in the Lake Houston area.

Humble ISD and City of Humble officials in addition to community members gathered at the Charles Bender Performing Arts Center, formerly known as Charles Bender High School, on Thursday to take a trip to the past and look at how Humble ISD has evolved over the past 10 decades.

Humble ISD Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen started the ceremony by remembering the former educators who made the district to what it is today.

“We are blessed in Humble ISD to be leaders to serve this community. Today, we take a moment and be reminded as leaders of Humble ISD that we stand on the shoulders of giants — many, many teachers, leaders, staff members who came before us. City council members and others who have built this into an incredible community.”

Fagen followed by saying one of the things that makes her the most proud of serving as Humble ISD superintendent is the Charles Bender Performing Arts Center and its rich history as a former Humble ISD high school; the first Humble ISD high school.

A new purpose

“In Humble we don’t forget the past. We don’t allow it to become dilapidated or torn down. We celebrate the past. We care about it. We remember it. We preserve it,” Fagen said.

The Charles Bender Performing Arts Center is now owned by the City of Humble. Fagen said the city has done a great job maintaining and preserving the historic building.

Humble Mayor Merle Aaron said over the years Humble ISD has been a partner in many projects, Charles Bender is just one of them.

“We always look forward to what happens in Humble ISD because it certainly affects the City of Humble,” Aaron said. “We have a council that is very conscious of not only the City of Humble but the areas that we are very close to, especially our school district. … Today when we look back at these students that have gone through this school district and what they’ve accomplished over the years it’s just staggering.”

Humble history

Humble ISD Historian and Humble Museum President Robert Meaux talked about the history of Humble ISD up to its early days when the district was known as District No. 28.

Meaux said the district started planning for its 100 year celebration back in 2016.

“We put together these three big committees made up of campus people, district people, community members, and they worked hard. They came up with some great ideas and it took us a couple of years on how to implement those ideas,” Meaux. “As the project kept growing, it kept sucking people into the project. So by the time we get to the point we are now, there’s so many people working on it because it’s impossible to recognize them individually.”

Moving forward

Looking back at all that Humble ISD has gone through over the past 100 years, Meaux said the district has greatly progressed in helping their students graduate and overcome whatever obstacles they faced.

“Humble ISD is an exciting place to be right now,” Meaux said. “Dr. Fagen and our leaders, they want innovation from our teachers. They want teachers that care about their students and not just about the test scores. They want teachers that can engage students and get those students to want to learn. … Our students are on the verge of creating a world that we couldn’t have imagined 100 years ago. It’s been an exciting 100 years in Humble ISD. Thousands of people have helped build that legacy but in here, we have a front row seat to the future.”

kaila.contreras@chron.com

More Information

Humble ISD Facts:

Humble ISD started off as one of the original Harris County common school districts back in 1884 as District No. 28.

In 1888, District No. 28 was split. The northern portion remained as District No. 28 and the southern portion was named District No. 35.

In 1918, Districts 28 and 35 were merged and became District 50.

The Texas Legislature then formed District 50 into Humble ISD in 1919.

Humble ISD had 1,435 students in 1919; the district now serves almost 44,000 students

Humble ISD originally had five schools; the district now holds 43 schools.

One of the original schools, the Humble Grammar School burned down in 1929, and Charles Bender High School took its place.

By 1949, three of the five original schools had to close due to low enrollment. Humble ISD only had 868 students.

Humble ISD opened three new schools in the 1960’s.

Humble ISD’s smallest graduating class was in 1911 with only two students, twin sisters.

Humble ISD’s largest graduating class was Kingwood High School’s Class of 2003 with 943 graduates.

Humble ISD has graduated 68,353 students so far.

Elizabeth Fagen is the 12th and only female in Humble ISD history to serve as superintendent.